ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY ACADEMIC
All students engaged in Athletics/Cheerleading shall be doing passing work in at least 25 credit hours (5 academic classes) of high school work per week. Driver’s Education is not part of the twenty-five hours. Students not meeting this requirement shall be ineligible for seven (7) calendar days beginning the day immediately after the coach is notified.

Student-athletes must have passed and received credit toward graduation for twenty-five (25) credit hours (5 academic classes) of high school work for the entire previous semester to be eligible at all during the ensuing semester.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY AGE
A student shall be eligible through age nineteen (19) unless the student shall become twenty (20) during a sport season, in which event eligibility shall terminate on the first day of such season (as the season is defined in Section 5.000 of these By-laws). (IHSA 3.060)

ATHLETIC ATTENDANCE
A student must be in attendance by 10:00 AM and remain in attendance the rest of the school day in order to participate in an extra-curricular practice or event.  If a student comes to school after 10:00 AM, they must have a note from a medical or dental office to be eligible for athletic or extra-curricular participation.  Students who leave school after 10:00 AM will only be eligible for athletic or extra-curricular participation on that day, if they leave for a medical/dental appointment. Students need to bring a note from a doctor or dentist upon return to school.  Students who leave school for any other reason after 10:00 AM will be ineligible for athletic or extra-curricular participation. 

INSURANCE FOR ATHLETES/CHEERLEADERS
Parents/Guardians assume liability for the athlete through their own insurance. An insurance waiver must be signed by the parent/guardian before the start of the year or first sport season. The waiver allows the parent to indicate all sports that the athlete will be participating in during that school year.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
All participants must have a physical examination before he/she can practice. School shall have on file for each student who participates (including practice) in interscholastic athletics a certificate of physical fitness issued by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner as set forth in the Illinois State Statutes not more than 395 days preceding any date of participation in any such practice, contest or activity.(i.e., 365 days + 30 from physical date allowed) … the Alleman Physical Form can be found on our website (www.allemanhighschool.org) under Athletics.

GROOMING
Athletics/cheerleading are a privilege at Alleman High School. With this privilege come certain responsibilities. One responsibility is to present an appropriate image of an Alleman Athlete/Cheerleader. The Administration reserves the right to determine what is an appropriate image for Alleman Athletes/Cheerleaders. In addition, any hairstyle deemed inappropriate, extraordinary, or distractive will be in violation of the athletic code. Jewelry is unacceptable for ALL athletes, during practice or scheduled competition.

PAYMENT FOR LOST EQUIPMENT
Equipment lost by players must be paid for by the player. The cost will depend on condition of equipment. A player will not be able to start the next sport season until lost equipment is paid for or replaced.

Coaches who observe students wearing school athletic equipment out of season should reclaim it or notify the Director of Athletics This is the responsibility of all the Coaches.

Athletes will not be allowed to wear equipment from other schools, Physical Education or team issued.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY CITIZENSHIP
Grave or major or minor offenses by Alleman Athletes/Cheerleaders will not be tolerated. (See Pages 41 & 45.) Alleman’s Athletic Code applies during the season, off season, and summer. Alleman Athletes and Cheerleaders will be subject to this Athletic Code in addition to the student code. The head coaches and Athletic Director reserve the right to dismiss any Alleman Athlete or Cheerleader for conduct detrimental to Alleman High School or their respective squads. Notes:

1. If the student is currently participating in a sport, they will be punished during that season - if there is less competitions than the punishment prescribes left in the season the AD will determine how many games the athlete must sit out in that student’s next athletic season.

2. If a student is not currently in a sport, the suspension will go into effect for whichever sport they participate in next. The suspension will not be considered fulfilled unless the student finishes that season as an exemplary teammate without further incident. If the student does not complete the season or is dismissed for violating team rules then the full prescribed suspension is carried over into the next sport the student participates in.

3. Suspension length will be based on the amount of regular season competitions. Games that are cancelled due to inclement weather, etc. will not count towards the suspension.

FIRST OFFENSE - The minimum suspension for possession of or use of or remaining present where there are illegal drugs, including the underage use of alcohol, or other Grave Offenses as listed in the Handbook is one-third of the scheduled athletic events in which the team competes, and for which he/ she is physically and academically eligible. At the time of the offense, the Athletic Director will determine the number of events for which the athlete is ineligible.

VOLUNTARY ADMISSION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Voluntary admission, in writing to the Principal or Assistant Principal, by the student of an infraction involving substance abuse will result in the consequence being reduced by half. The purpose of this provision is to encourage the student to accept responsibility for his/her actions/decisions. The voluntary admission may NOT be used if the rule infraction is already known to Principal and/or Assistant Principal. This provision may be used only once during a high school career and for a first offense only.

SECOND OFFENSE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL - The athlete/cheerleader will be suspended for two-thirds of the scheduled athletic events in which the team competes, and for which he/she is physically and academically eligible. If however, the second offense occurs within 365 calendar days of the first offense, then the suspension will be for one calendar year. Periods of ineligibility may not be served concurrently. At the time of the offense, the Athletic Director will determine the number of events for which the athlete is ineligible.

THIRD OFFENSE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL - The student will be suspended for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of the offense with the possibility of no further participation unless 50 hours of work detentions at Alleman are satisfactorily completed. A student serving an athletic suspension must be a fully participating member of the team for the entire season for the suspension to be considered fulfilled. The only exception would be those suspended for one calendar year.

LETTER AWARDS

• Numeral – awarded to a freshman student-athlete who completes the season, meets performance, behavior, and attendance requirements as set forth by the head coach. Only one set of numerals is awarded to a student-athlete while at Alleman.

• Sophomore Letter - awarded to a freshman or sophomore student-athlete who completes the season, meets performance, behavior, and attendance requirements as set forth by the head coach. Only one sophomore letter is awarded to a student-athlete while at Alleman.

• Varsity Letter – awarded to a student-athlete, regardless of grade, who completes the season, performance, behavior, and attendance requirements as set forth by the head coach. Only one varsity letter is awarded to a student-athlete while at Alleman.

• Pins – awarded for each varsity letter earned.

• Certificate – awarded to any student-athlete, regardless of grade, who completes the season, meets performance, behavior, and attendance requirements as set forth by the head coach. Certificates are awarded when the appropriate numeral or letter has already been awarded.

The student-athlete must have turned in all school issued equipment/uniform and/ or any outstanding fundraising money before any awards will be issued.

Any student-athlete who transfers from another school will only be allowed to earn the award that corresponds to the year he/she transferred and any award thereafter. For example: if an eligible sophomore transfers in and earns a sophomore letter, he/she is not able to receive the freshmen numerals from Alleman.

TRANSFER OF ATHLETES/CHEERLEADERS FROM TEAMS
An athlete/cheerleader will not transfer from one squad to another for any reason after the first contest of that sport. The Athletic Director will make the final determination in all such cases.

LATE PARTICIPATION
Joining any athletic team after the official start of the season as indicated by the IHSA calendar must be approved by the Athletic Director in consultation with the Administration.

MULTI - SPORT POLICY
If a student -athlete is considering participation in two sports during the same season, this must be discussed with the Athletic Director prior to the start of the official practice. The respective coaches, student-athlete and parents must agree to any consequences that may arise as a result of both schedules; including all practices and contests.

It is a tremendous challenge to balance two sports along with a full academic load. The Athletic Department will only support this if there is a written agreement identifying all commitments and the details of such arrangements. This agreement must be signed by the head coaches, the student-athlete, parent(s) and Athletic Director.

CHEERLEADERS
Cheerleading tryouts will take place in April or May for the following school year. This includes Football and Basketball sideline spirit squads. Varsity and/or sophomore squads will be based on numbers and need. The Alleman head coach and a panel of experienced individuals will judge the tryout and determine the squads accordingly.

SPORTSMANSHIP
“Sportsmanship is that quality of honor that desires always to be courteous, fair, and respectful, and it is interpreted in the conduct of players, spectators, coaches and school authorities.” - Fielding Yost

Alleman High School is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and supports the sportsmanship mission statement of that organization: "Good sportsmanship is the attitude and behavior that exemplifies positive support for the interscholastic programs of IHSA member schools, as well as for the individuals who participate in such programs. People involved in all facets of the interscholastic program are expected to demonstrate respect for others and display good sportsmanship."